Wood Trim
Capture the handmade character of fine older homes with painted or stained wood trim. Stores carry a wide range of decorative moldings, many of them re-creations of traditional woodwork patterns.
Among these are base moldings, which run along the bottom of a wall, and crown moldings and cornices, which adorn the top. Decorative moldings around doors and windows are called casing. The height of your ceilings and size of your rooms helps determine how elaborate you should be. Keep it simple in smaller rooms.
Picture rails are narrow moldings near the tops of walls. They help unify doors and windows and separate the ceiling from the wall color.
Chair rails, often seen in dining rooms, are moldings designed to prevent the backs of chairs from damaging the wall. Place them about 31 in. from the floor.